Tube connector for assembly toy

Abstract

Disclosed is a tube connector for an assembly toy, which includes a cylindrical body having upper and lower horizontal surfaces, a circular hole perforated through the center of the body perpendicular to the horizontal surfaces for insertion of a tube, and at least one coupling rib integrally formed around the body at the level of one of the horizontal surfaces. As a tube is coupled to the coupling rib, assembly of various shapes of three-dimensional toys is possible.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An assembly unit for an assembly toy, the assembly unit comprising a first tube connector and a second tube connector, each of the tube connectors comprising:
 a semispherical or cylindrical body having a horizontal surface; 
 a hole perforated through the center of the body perpendicular to the horizontal surface, and 
 at least one coupling rib outwardly extending from an outer surface of the body, wherein the at least one coupling is configured to allow a tube to be inserted thereon, 
 wherein the first tube connector is coupled with the second tube connector such that the horizontal surface of the first tube connector and the horizontal surface of the second tube connector are alternately coupled and come into contact with each other, and 
 wherein the horizontal surface of the first tube connector is rotatable clockwise or counterclockwise with respect to the horizontal surface of the second tube connector, wherein during rotation, the horizontal surface of the first tube connector is in contact with the horizontal surface of the second tube connector. 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly unit according to  claim 1 , wherein an end of the at least one coupling rib is divided into two parts spaced apart from each other to enable an elastic fixation of the tube by an insertion of the two spaced parts of the at least one coupling rib into the tube. 
     
     
       3. The assembly unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling rib extends in a parallel direction to a plane defined by the horizontal surface. 
     
     
       4. The assembly unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupling rib obliquely extends from the body at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal surface. 
     
     
       5. The assembly unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the hole has a circular cross section, and the tube is inserted through the holes of the first and second tube connectors for inter-coupling the first and second tube connectors. 
     
     
       6. The assembly unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupling rib is integrally formed with the body. 
     
     
       7. The assembly unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupling rib has a circular bar-shape. 
     
     
       8. The assembly unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupling rib has a raised portion located on an outer periphery thereof and configured to fix the inserted tube. 
     
     
       9. The assembly unit according to  claim 1 , wherein a lower half portion of the at least one coupling rib protrudes downward from the horizontal surface and extends away from the body. 
     
     
       10. The assembly unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupling rib is disposed at the level of the horizontal surface, and a center axis of the at least one coupling rib is aligned with the horizontal surface. 
     
     
       11. The assembly unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the body has a plurality of coupling holes configured to receive the at least one coupling rib. 
     
     
       12. The assembly unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface has a plurality of insertion grooves configured to receive the at least one coupling rib. 
     
     
       13. The assembly unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupling rib is elastically coupled to the body. 
     
     
       14. The assembly unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tube connector coupling member having a pair of coupling protrusions, wherein the tube connector coupling member is disposed in the holes of the first and second tube connectors to fix the first and second tube connectors to one another.